How accurate is Birdsong's bird identifier?

It runs Google's Perch, a research-grade acoustic model covering nearly 15,000 species. When a call is ambiguous, we say so honestly and let you record a second clip to confirm, rather than guessing.

Is my recording stored?

No. Your audio is used to identify the bird in the moment and isn't saved to our servers. The birds you confirm are kept as cards in your own field journal; the recordings themselves are not.

Is the bird identifier free?

Yes — identify birds every day for free, no account required. Birdsong Pro ($3.99/mo or $39.99/yr) unlocks unlimited IDs, full field guides, your growing collection, and shareable Field Report cards.

Do I need an account or internet to identify a bird?

You'll need a connection to identify, since the AI runs in the cloud. No account is needed to try it — sign in with Google or email to save your field journal and sync it across devices.

Birdsong field guide

Gray Wagtail

Motacilla cinerea

An elegant, slender passerine of fast-flowing waterways, characterized by its remarkably long, bobbing tail and striking yellow underparts.

What it sounds like

A sharp, high-pitched, metallic 'zi-zi' or 'chissick' usually delivered in flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Eduard Leinwand · PortugalCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It possesses the longest tail relative to its body size of all wagtail species.
During the breeding season, males develop a distinctive jet-black throat patch that is lost during the winter moult.
Despite its name, it often appears more yellow than the Yellow Wagtail, though it is distinguished by its slate-gray upperparts.
It is highly specialized for aquatic life, frequently foraging for stonefly and mayfly larvae along the water's edge.
The constant tail-wagging motion is believed to assist in flushing insect prey or signaling in noisy riverine environments.

Habitat

Fast-flowing upland streams, rocky rivers, waterfalls, and occasionally canal locks or garden ponds.

Range

Widespread across Europe, Asia, and North Africa, with some populations migrating to the tropics.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Pied WagtailMotacilla aguimp Cape WagtailMotacilla capensis Citrine WagtailMotacilla citreola Eastern Yellow WagtailMotacilla tschutschensis Japanese WagtailMotacilla grandis Japanese WagtailMotacilla grandis Madagascar WagtailMotacilla flaviventris Mekong WagtailMotacilla samveasnae

Heard a Gray Wagtail?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

Identify a bird by its song